Chemical Agents, Mechanism of Action, Applications, Examples

  1. Halogens (chlorine vs iodine)

    1. Iodine

      1. Protein denaturaiton

      2. to sterilize surface before incision

      3. Skin antiseptic

      4. may kills spores

      5. Causes kin damage, staining, and allergies 

    2. Chlorine

      1. disinfection of water supplies

      2. Destroys vegetative bacteria and fungi

  2. Oxidizing agents (H2O2)

    1. kills endospores

    2. oxygen forms free radicals - toxic to cells

  3. Aldehydes (glutaraldehyde)

    1. inactivates proteins

    2. Sporicidal and can be used as chemical sterilants

  4. Gases (ethylene oxide)

    1. Used to sterilize heat-sensitive materials

    2. Microbial and sporicidal

  5. Phenol (triclosan)

    1. Commonly used as laboratory and hospital disinfectants

    2. Act by denaturing proteins and disrupting cell membrane

    3. Tuberculocidal (kills tb)

    4. Effective in presence of organic material and long lasting

  6. Chlorhexidine (chlorine and phenolic rings)

    1. Most bacteria, fungi, viruses

    2. targets cell membranes, cell walls, proteins

    3. Mouth Wash

  7. Alcohol (ethanol, isopropanol)

    1. Among the most widely used disinfectants and antiseptic

    2. inactivate some viruses

    3. Denature proteins and possibly dissolve membrane lipids

  8. Detergents (cationic quats > anionic)

    1. effective disinfectants

    2. Cationic detergents are effective disinfectants

      1. not effective against spores

  9. Heavy metal compounds (silver nitrate topicals)

    1. mercury, silver, zinc

    2. usually toxic

    3. combine with and inactivate proteins

  10. Acids and alkalis

    1. alters pH

    2. Used in food